Revised Family Assessment Device – Chinese Version

Description

Currently, there are two different theoretical orientations in family function research: the first is represented by Olson’s Circumplex Model, which focuses on the outcomes of family functioning. This orientation emphasizes the results of family functioning, such as intimacy and adaptability, and understands families through their types and the quality of family life. By categorizing families into several types based on two to three dimensions, it is possible to gain an overall understanding of the status of family functioning in which adolescents are situated. Research based on this theoretical orientation has extensively explored the relationship between family functioning and adolescents’ emotional issues, consistently concluding that better family functioning correlates with fewer emotional problems in adolescents. The outcomes of family functioning can also predict adolescents’ emotional issues.

The second orientation is represented by the Family Process Model, which examines the various steps involved in families completing tasks (e.g., communication, emotional expression, involvement, control, etc.) to identify the specific processes leading to problems. The aim is to intervene in problematic family processes to reduce and prevent adolescents’ emotional issues. Researchers who focus on the family process orientation argue that the classifications of family system types in the outcome-focused theory are not particularly useful in clinical practice, as it is the specific process of how the family system fulfills its functions that has a direct impact on adolescents’ emotional problems, rather than the characteristics of family functioning outcomes. Research by Xu Jie et al. found that the process of family functioning is a greater predictor of adolescents’ emotional issues than the outcomes.

Authors and Contact Email

Xu Jie et al. (Contact email information not available)

Purpose

The study investigates the mechanisms by which family functioning impacts adolescents’ emotional issues.

Test Year

Information not available

Administration Method and Scoring

The revised Chinese version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) questionnaire includes five dimensions: 情感交流 (Emotional Communication), 积极沟通 (Positive Communication), 自我主义 (Self-centeredness), 问题解决 (Problem Solving), and 家庭规则 (Family Rules), totaling 30 items. The scoring uses a 4-point scale from “完全不像我家” (Completely not like my family) to “完全像我家” (Completely like my family). A higher score indicates a healthier level of family functioning.

Reliability and Validity

Information not available

Factors and Subscales

– 情感交流 (Emotional Communication)
– 积极沟通 (Positive Communication)
– 自我主义 (Self-centeredness)
– 问题解决 (Problem Solving)
– 家庭规则 (Family Rules)

Keywords

Family Functioning, Emotional Problems, Adolescents, Circumplex Model, Family Process Model

Items in Chinese

情感交流
1. 我们相互之间不大愿意表露感情
2. 我们家的人心里想什么,从来不告诉家里其他人
3. 我们家的人一般很少表露自己的感情
4. 在我们家,如遇到什么事而心里难过,很难和家人谈
5. 我们相互之间不表达自己对对方的爱
6. 只有当我们对某件事都感兴趣的时候,我们才相互交谈
7. 在我们家,没有什么机会来追求个人的兴趣
8. 当我们生气时,我们并不和家里人谈

积极沟通
9. 我们家的人相互之间说话很诚实,很坦率
10. 我们家里的人常常相互之间很亲切
11. 对于不愉快的问题,我们家的人从不回避,而是设法去解决它
12. 如果我们不喜欢家里某个人所做的事,我们就告诉他(她)
13. 家里如果有什么问题,我们会想各种办法去解决的

自我主义
14. 我们家的人过分以自己为中心,只顾个人
15. 我们家的人心里想的和嘴上说的不一致
16. 只有在个人能得到好处时,我们家的人才相互交往
17. 在我们家,相互之间很少有温柔体贴
18. 只有在个人能得到好处时,我们才对家里其他人感兴趣
19. 我们对于家里所分配的事情一般不满意

问题解决
20. 我们家里大部分日常生活问题能够得到解决
21. 我们家里每个人都必须负起自己的责任
22. 当我们决定了如何解决一个问题时,我们通常就去执行
23. 家里如有急事,我们知道怎么做
24. 我们家人在试着解决一个问题之后,通常讨论一下问题是否真的已经解决了
25. 我们能够解决大部分使人烦恼的问题

家庭规则
26. 在我们家,当你叫某个人去做什么事情时,你必须去看看他(她)到底做了没有
27. 我们家的家务集中在个别人身上,没有平均分担
28. 在我们家里,如果要某个人做什么事,必须再三提醒他(她)
29. 我家里什么样的事都有
30. 虽然我们是好心好意,但我们相互之间管得太多

Items in English

Emotional Communication
1. We are not very willing to express feelings to each other.
2. Family members never tell each other what they are thinking.
3. Family members generally express their feelings very rarely.
4. When something makes me sad, it’s hard to talk to my family about it.
5. We do not express our love for each other.
6. We only talk to each other when we are all interested in something.
7. There are no opportunities in our home to pursue personal interests.
8. When we are angry, we do not talk to family members.

Positive Communication
9. Family members speak honestly and directly with each other.
10. People in our family are often kind and friendly to each other.
11. We do not avoid unpleasant issues; instead, we try to solve them.
12. If we don’t like something someone in the family is doing, we tell them.
13. If there is a problem at home, we think of various ways to solve it.

Self-centeredness
14. Family members are excessively self-centered and care only about themselves.
15. What family members think and what they say are inconsistent.
16. Family members only interact when they can gain something personally.
17. There is little tenderness and consideration among us.
18. We are only interested in other family members when we can gain personally.
19. We are generally not satisfied with the divisions of responsibilities in our household.

Problem Solving
20. Most daily life problems can be resolved in our home.
21. Everyone in our family must take on their responsibilities.
22. Once we decide how to solve a problem, we usually implement it.
23. If there is an urgent matter at home, we know what to do.
24. After trying to resolve a problem, we usually discuss whether it is really solved.
25. We can solve most annoying problems.

Family Rules
26. In our home, if you ask someone to do something, you have to see if they did it.
27. Household chores in our family are concentrated on a few individuals and are not evenly divided.
28. In our home, if someone is supposed to do something, we have to remind them repeatedly.
29. Anything can happen in our family.
30. Although we have good intentions, we meddle too much in each other’s business.

References

徐洁,方晓义,张锦涛,etal.家庭功能对青少年情绪问题的作用机制[J].心理发展与教育,2008(02):81-87.
李荣风,徐夫真,纪林芹,etal.家庭功能评定量表的初步修订[J].中国健康心理学杂志,2013(07):996-1000.
刘丽, 赵丽涛. 家庭功能对愤怒的影响:自尊的中介作用[J]. 山西大学学报(哲学社会科学版), 2018, 41(05):145-150.